Apparatus including a swinging frame for intermittently cutting elongated workpieces



, 1961 s. N. SMALL 2,981,135

APPARATUS INCLUDING A SWINGING FRAME FOR INTERMITTEINTLY CUTTINGELONGATED WORKPIECES April 25 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1958 FIG.

INVENTOR. 5/2M (/51. /V. 5M/ILL gawk 4W H TTORN E Y LL 2,981,135 RAMEFOR INTERMITTENTLY April 25, 1961 s, N, s

APPARATUS INCLUDING A SWINGIN CUTTING ELONGA Filed June 26, 1958 EDWORKPIECES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w y W 0 w W525 2,981,135. Patented Apr. 25,1961 ice APPARATUS INCLUDING A SWINGING FRAME FOR INTERMITTENTLY CUTTINGELONGATED WORKPIECES Samuel N. Small, Valley Stream, N. assiguor toJulius Duberstein, New York, N.Y.'

Filed June 26, 1958, Ser. No. 744,850

Claims. (Cl. 83-310) This invention relates to a method and apparatus,wherein a cutting or forming tool is bodily rotated about an axis, whilebeing rotated on its own axis and, wherein, means is provided forimparting reciprocating or swinging movement to the tool while passingthrough the two first named motions described, whereby the tool can bemoved in synchronism with the feed of an elongated workpiece in theoperation of cutting or forming the workpiece at predetermined spacedintervals.

More particularly, the invention deals with an apparatus of thecharacter described employing a main rotatable frame, having endbearings with a direct drive at one end of the frame, a supplementalreciprocating or swinging frame pivotally mounted in the main frame insupporting, at one end, a rotatable tool with means operatively engagingthe other end of the supplemental frame for intermittently impartingswinging or reciprocating motion thereto in movement of the tool intoand out of engagement with an elongated workpiece fed through themachine.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of theinvention are disclosed and,in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine or apparatus made according to myinvention, with parts ofthe construction broken away and in section andindicating, in dot and dash lines, the swinging or reciprocating motionimparted to the supplemental frame of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure, as shown in Fig. 1, with part ofthe construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section, substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1,showing only part of the construction and omitting part of thebackground showing, said figure illustrating, in dot and dash lines, theworkpiece operated upon by the tool. I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the broken line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showingonly part of the construction andillustrating the supplemental frame inits tilted or operative position; and l Fig. 5 is a detailed sectiononthe line 55 of Fig. 4, omitting background showing. i

In Fig. 1 of .the drawing, 11) represents a suitable base or support, towhich a plate 11 is suitably fixed and supported on end portions of theplate are pairs of upstanding A members 12, in connection with which endbearings 13 this frame being rotated with the rotation of the. shaft. 15and at a speed in synchronism with the feed of a workpiece fed throughthe machine, as later described.

Mounted in the box-shaped member 18, note Fig. 1, is a bearing sleeve20, having a direct support in the bearing 14 and arranged within endportions of the sleeve 26 are needle bearings 21, forming anantifrictional support for the cutter drive shaft 22, which passesfreely through or operates freely in the sleeve 20, as clearly indicatedin Fig. 1 of the drawing.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the entire main frame 20rotates about the axis of the drive shaft 15 and, in this operation,carries with it a supplemental more or less yoke-shaped frame, generallyidentified by the reference character 23. The supplemental frame 23 ismounted to swing about an axis or shaft 24, having antifrictionalbearing supports in the rails 17 of the main frame, as well as similarsupports in the supplemental frame 23.

Fixed to the shaft 24, within the main frame 19', is a bevelled gear 25meshing with a corresponding gear 26 on the inner end of the shaft 22.

Also fixed to the shaft 24 is a large gear 27 meshing with a smallergear 28 fixed to a cutter shaft 29, the latter having antifrictionalbearing supports in the side members 31) of the supplemental frame 23.

It will appear, from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing,that the shaft 29 operates in large apertures 31 in the rails 17 toallow for the swinging movement of the supplemental frame 23, as laterdescribed.

Adjustably fixed on the central portion of the shaft 29 is a threadedcollar 32 having, at one end thereof, a circumferentially large flange33, note Fig. 3 of the drawing, and in threaded engagement with thecollar 32 is a nut 34 for securely clamping a disc-type tool 35 inposition on I the collar and, thus, on the shaft 29.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, the tool 35 isin the form of a cutter tool and has a circumferential cutter edge 36,as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, so that, in the operation of themachine or apparatus, an elongated workpiece, indicated in dot-dashlines at 37 in Fig. 3 of the drawing, can be severed at spacedintervals, as this workpiece is fed by suitable and 14 are supported.The bearing 13 forms a support for adriven shaft 15, the drive for whichis notshown and fixed to the shaft, inwardly of the bearing 13, is abox-shaped member 16, to opposed sidesof which are secured side rails 17which, in turn, are secured to.another box-shaped member 18 at opposedends of the rails 17. 1'6, 17 and 18 constitute a main rotatable frame,which means, not shown, through a guide and positioning nozzle 38, thenozzle being supported in connection with an upright support 39 suitablyfixed to the base 10.'

The support 39 has, at its upper end, a hopper-like admission aperture40 for guidance of the workpiece into the bore 41 of the nozzle, so asto position the wor piece 37 directly at the top center of the disc 35.It is also preferred that a backup roller or forming tool 42, mounted onthe nozzle 38, be arranged directly above the workpiece 37, the rollerhaving one or more notches,

as at 43, adapted to register with the tool 35 when in workpiece 37 canconstitute a tubular paper drinking I i straw or a long tube, from whichthese straws of predetermined lengths are formed by severing the longwork-piece 37 at'intervals which will define the straw lengths."

will be generally identified by thereference character 19,

At this time, it is also pointed out that the speed of rotation of themain frame 19, together with the cutter tool 35, is again in synchronismwith the feed of the workpiece.37, so that the tool 35 moves with theworkpiece in the cutting operation. In this connection, it will appearthat the diagrammatic showing of Fig. 3 of the drawing would beillustrating the limit of height position of the tool 35 as the same isrotated in the direction of the arrow 45, which is the direction ofrotation of the main frame 19.

Now, considering Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will also appear that, whilethe tool 35 is being bodily swung in the direction of the arrow 45, thetool is rotated in the direction of the arrow 45, the tool being rotatedthrough the gearing, as previously described, the drive for which is theshaft 22.

Coupled with the ends of the rails 30 of the supplemental frame 23,adjacent the bearing 14, are upper and lower cross-straps 47, to whichare secured, cent-rally, brackets 43 supporting antifrictional rollers49 which operatively engage an actuating cam 50 supported on the base 10at the side of the apparatus opposed to the mounting of the nozzle 38,as will appear from a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing and, inthis figure, the illustration of the base It is omitted forsimplification in the showing and this is also true of the supportingplate 11.

The cam 50 provides an eccentric cam surface 51 which is disposed at oneside only of the machine, as will clearly appear from a consideration ofFig. 4 of the drawing, in which figure, the arrow 52 illustrates thedirection of rotation of the main frame, as well as the supplementalframe movable therewith. The lower roller 49, as illustrated in Fig. 4of the drawing, is shown in the position released from the cam surface1, which has permitted the swinging supplemental frame 23 to be moveddownwardly by the action of springs 53 in swinging the tool end of thesupplemental frame upwardly into the position indicated in dot-dashlines at 23' in Fig. 1 of the drawing or, in other Words, into theraised position, as noted clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing. At thisinstant and at this instant, only, is the tool brought into operativeposition to form or sever the workpiece in its passage through themachine. As the lower roller 49 is released, it will appear that theupper roller 49, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, is now in positionto freely enter and operatively engage the cam surface 51 and the entiresupplemental frame will be held in this position, until said last namedroller reaches the lower position and is then released.

Considering Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, it will appear that the endsof the rails 17 of the main frame 19, adjacent the bearing 14, havereduced extensions 17, note Fig. 5, in outer surfaces of which areformed recesses 54, generally of the contour seen in Fig. 5, forreception of the springs 53. The upper and lower ends of the recessesare contracted and terminate in apertures or slots 55 opening throughupper and lower ends of the extension 17, so as to provide passage ofpins 56 into and out of the recesses 54, the pins being fixed to therails 30, as clearly noted in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

The contracted ends 57 of the recesses 54 form seats for the springs 53and it will, thus, appear that, when a spring has operated upon one ofthe pins in each pair to iove the frame 23 downwardly when the lowerroller 49 is released from the cam surface 51, simultaneous admission ofthe upper roller 49 will move the other pins of the pairs intoengagement with and compress the springs 53, retaining the same in thisposition, until such time as the next successive roller 49 comes to thereleasing position.

At this time, it will be apparent that the degree of movement requiredfor the actuation of the tool or cutter 35 will depend entirely upon thesize or cross-sectional form of the workpiece being operated upon andthe.

nature of work performed on the workpiece. The primary movement willtake place at. the initial operation of the tool or cutter and, while agreater movement may be imparted to the tool or cutter, this would becompensated for by the recess 43 in the disc or roller 42.

To clearly understand the foregoing, it will appear, from aconsideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing, that the lower discharge end ofthe nozzle 38 is cut away, as seen at 38', to clear the tool 35 as it isrotating in the direction of the arrow 45 and also to clear the framesin their rotary movement. In other Words, in Fig. 3, the tool isindicated at the limit of its cutting or forming operation, but it wouldbe free to move upwardly a greater degree than that shown in Fig. 3 incompensating for the complete swinging movement of the frame 23. Thediagrammatic showing of Fig. 4 would indicate, however, the limit ofswinging movement of the frame 23 with the upper roller engaging the camsurface 51, placing the spring 53 under compression, the rounded surface50 of the cam 50 serving to guide the roller onto the cam surface 51.

it will also appear that the surfaces 50" of the cam 50 are sufficientlyoffset with respect to the axis of the shaft 22 to permit the release ofone roller 49, while simultaneously admitting the other roller 49 ontothe cam surface 51.

it will be apparent from the foregoing description that, in the completecycle of operation of the machine or apparatus, the part of the tool orcutter 35, appearing uppermost as the main frame is rotated in thedirection of the arrow 45, will operatively engage the workpiece 37.Then, there will be the lapse of time until the tool 35 is again broughtinto the raised position and, at such time, a longitudinally spacedinterval of the workpiece will be in the position at the discharge endof the nozzle 38 to be severed or operated upon by the tool. The speedof rotation of the frame, together with the speed of feed of theworkpiece, will govern this spacing of operations performed on theworkpiece. In some instances, it may be desirable to provide anintermittent feed of the workpiece in order to provide a closer spacingof the cutting or forming operations on the workpiece.

However, where speed of production is an important factor, it isdesirable that the machine or apparatus be so constructed in design andoperated as to perform the desired operations on the workpiececonsistent with the practical feed of the workpiece through the machine.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that, normally, the tool 30 isbodily rotated in the direction of the arrow 45 while being rotated onitsaxis 29 and this procedure continues, except only at the moment ofthe sudden re lease of the supplemental frame or dropping of what may betermed the rear end thereof in providing the desired lift to the forwardor tool end of the supplemental frame, this supplemental frame swingingon the axis 24, as will be apparent.

For purposes of description, the terminal end of the nozzle 38 and theengagement of the disc 42 with the workpiece 37 may be said to define aforming station. In other words, it is that particular part of theapparatus where the tool is brought into engagement with and moved insynchronism with the workpiece, while the workpiece is being formed. Inthis connection, it is also tobe understood that, in the use of theexpression form or forming this is to imply any type and kind ofoperation performed upon the workpiece.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for intermittently performing operations upon acontinuously fed elongated workpiece along a given path, a main framerotatable about a single axis, a supplemental frame extending the majorportion of the length of and arranged outwardly of and swingably mountedin the mainframe on a pivot axis arranged transversely of and supportedin said main frame, a trans verse shaft supported in one end portion ofthe supplemental frame and spaced'with respect to said pivot axis, atool fixed to said shaft, means driving said pivot axis,

means comprising gears on the pivot axis of said swinging frame and onsaid shaft for rotating the tool, the axis center of said tool beingnormally substantially in alinement with the center of the axis ofrotation of the main frame, and means, at the other end portion of theswinging frame, for intermittently imparting swinging movement to thesupplemental swinging frame in movement of said transverse shaft out ofsaid alinement and in movement of the tool into said path into operativeengagement with a workpiece while fed through the apparatus andimmediately withdrawing the tool from the path of movement of theworkpiece.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the last named meansincludes rollers supported on the supplemental frame, and a camoperatively engaging said rollers in control of the intermittentswinging movement of the supplemental frame and spacing of operationsperformed upon the workpiece.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means furtherincludes tensional means for actuating the swinging frame upon releaseof one of the rollers from said cam.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means driving saidpivot axis comprises a shaft arranged axially of the axis of rotation ofsaid main frame, and said last named shaft including a bevelled gearoperatively engaging a bevelled gear fixed to the pivot axis of saidsupplemental swinging frame.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pair of spacedbearings, an elongated main frame having means at ends thereof rotatablymounted in said bearings, one of said means comprising a drive shaft forrotating said frame, the other of said means including an elongatedsleeve, a gear drive shaft freely rotatable in said sleeve, asupplemental frame extending the major portion of the length of the mainframe and arranged outwardly of and swingably mounted on a pivot axissupported in said main frame intermediate and in alinement with saidfirst named bearings, means comprising bevelled gears on the gear driveshaft and said pivot axis for rotating said pivot axis, a tool shaftnormally in alinement with said drive shaft and freely rotatable in oneend portion of the supplemental frame and spaced with respect to saidpivot axis, means providing a drive between the pivot axis and said toolshaft, a tool fixed to the tool shaft, means for guiding an elongatedworkpiece fed into the machine axially of the tool shaft along a givenpath, and means, at the other end portion of the swinging frame, forintermittently imparting swinging movement to the supplemental swingingframe in movement of said tool shaft out ofsaid normal alinement and inmovement of the tool into said path into operative engagement with aworkpiece while fed through the apparatus and immediately withdrawingthe tool from said path of movement of the workpiece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS647,174- Bagguley Apr. 10, 1900 955,113 Bilgram Apr. 12, 1910 1,201,842Maltby Oct. 17, 1916 1,703,885 Hutchinson Mar. 5, 1929 1,917,187 ContiJuly 4, 1933 1,917,806 Miller July 11, 19 33

